Emela-ntouka
One of my favorite kinds of cryptids are the ones that venture into the once-real or near-real, think of giant sea monsters and dinosaurs. The cryptid today is the latter, and is renowned in the Republic of Congo. Enter: Emela-ntouka, which dwells in the Likouala swamps and whose name translates to “killer of elephants.”
Despite the name elephant killer, the emela-ntouka in some ways seems to resemble them. It is said they are the size of a large elephant, hairless, and range from brown to gray. Unlike elephants, though, their most distinctive feature isn't a trunk: it is a single, vicious horn on the front of its head. Another remarkable feature is its long, heavy tail which more resembles a crocodile’s than an elephants. Also, similar to elephants, it is largely a plant-eater but can be vicious if encountered at the wrong time. If an elephant swims across its territory it uses its viscous horn and strong tail to eviscerate the other animal.
A popular theory about what the cryptid might be (besides, ya know, a giant swamp monster) a Ceratopsia. If you’re not familiar with the term, think of Triceratops. Other theories purport that it may be a breed of rhino near extinction or low in numbers.
Famed cryptozoologist, Professor Roy Mackal led multiple expeditions into the Congo looking for the mokele-mbembe, one of the most famous cryptids of the area. However, he was soon interested in another cryptid: Emela-ntouka. He collected various stories of sightings, particularly sightings of the killings of other animals, and posited that perhaps, as mentioned above, it was a previously undiscovered type of Ceratopsian that somehow was still living. However, the descriptions just didn’t quite match up as they were similar in all ways except the horny frill that most Ceratopsians had.
While most popular in the Congo, other reports of swamp-dwelling creatures have emerged in Zambia as well, particularly in Lake Tangayika.
The above image is from USAID and is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.